Foreign Conflicts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004

Wednesday, 31 March 2004

Questions (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

36 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of the Government’s support for Kosovo and its political future. [10125/04]

Paul Kehoe

Question:

96 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the increasing tensions in Kosovo. [10024/04]

Joe Sherlock

Question:

107 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s view of the current problems in Kosova, particularly for minorities, in view of the recent outbreak of ethnic violence. [9917/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

141 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to influence EU policy in regard to the ongoing Albanian-Serb-Kosovar tension and violence. [10295/04]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 96, 107 and 141 together.

Kosovo has stabilised since the violence of 17 and 18 March when at least 19 people were killed and hundreds wounded. It remains very tense. On 23 March two policemen, one an officer serving with the UN in Kosovo and one a member of the Kosovo police service, were shot dead. Over 3,000 people were displaced from their homes, mostly ethnic Serbs, and there has been widespread destruction of property, including private homes and places of worship. The KFOR international peacekeeping force in Kosovo was strengthened significantly in response to the violence. I pay tribute to the Irish contingent in KFOR for its efforts to stabilise the problem and to restore calm.

The EU remains committed to the development of a secure, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999. As Presidency, Ireland reacted strongly to the recent violence. On 17 March I contacted the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo, Harri Holkeri, and immediately issued an EU Presidency statement calling for calm. This was followed by a statement on behalf of the EU at the UN Security Council public meeting on 18 March. On 22 March I chaired a meeting of GAERC in Brussels and Kosovo was one of the main items on its agenda. The Council condemned the violence and asked High Representative Solana to visit Kosovo as soon as possible and to assess the problem.

On 25 and 26 March the European Council reaffirmed the EU's strong support for Special Representative Holkeri, the UN Mission in Kosovo and KFOR in their determined efforts to stabilise the situation and to ensure the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. It also reconfirmed its support for the policy of standards before status. We must now reassert the primacy of politics in Kosovo and ensure that there is no further descent into ethnic violence.

The EU is agreed that political leaders in Kosovo, especially the Kosovo Albanian leadership, need to take responsibility for the problem and ensure that there is not a repeat of ethnically motivated violence or threats of violence. Those responsible for it must be brought to justice. Kosovo's provisional institutions of self-Government must demonstrate their commitment to a multi-ethnic country. Last week's European Council called on them to take an immediate step in this direction by allocating resources for the urgent reconstruction of damaged property, including places of worship, to ensure that internally displaced persons can return to their homes in safety. Political leaders in Kosovo must now work closely with the UN Mission in Kosovo and with KFOR to ensure the physical security and the protection of the rights of all sections of the population, including members of minority communities.

Under Ireland's Presidency, the EU is considering how it can strengthen its role in support of the UN led policy of standards before status. Over the coming weeks the Government, as EU Presidency, will remain in close contact with Special Representative Holkeri, High Representative Solana and the Commission and other member states to ensure that the EU makes an effective contribution to the restoration of a political process for Kosovo. It is clear that the future for the people of Kosovo lies in the eventual integration of the countries of the western Balkans region into European structures, as agreed at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki last June. The issue of the final status of Kosovo can only be addressed once sufficient progress has been made on the implementation and review of standards. Despite the recent violence and continuing tensions, this must include the resumption of progress in the direct dialogue on practical matters between Belgrade and Pristina.

Kosovo has been under UN administration since the end of the conflict in 1999. The EU has specific responsibility as part of the UN Mission for reconstruction and economic development in Kosovo. In the four years to the end of 2003 the EU provided almost €960 million in assistance to Kosovo. The Government, through Development Co-operation Ireland, is also providing bilateral assistance to support health, education, employment generation and democratisation in Kosovo. Almost €1 million was provided in direct bilateral assistance in the period 2002-03. Ireland has also provided funding for the UN Office of Missing Persons and Forensics. It identifies body remains and has helped to address one of the most sensitive post-conflict issues in the region. Ireland has assisted the UN refugee return programme for Kosovo and provides support for the privatisation process through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Ireland also contributes to the regional activities of several multilateral agencies active in the western Balkans, including the Council of Europe, the OECD and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

37 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent attempts by mercenaries operating in the interests of multi-national oil interests to destabilise the Government of Equatorial Guinea; and if he will make a statement on the matter [9900/04]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Reports indicate that foreign nationals were involved in a plot to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. The alleged plot involved 67 alleged mercenaries and on 7 March they were arrested in Harare when their plane landed. I and my EU partners are concerned about attempts to overthrow a government by force.

Ireland, as Presidency of the EU, will continue to monitor the problem in Equatorial Guinea, in consultation with EU partners and it will make known its concerns, as appropriate.